DECEMBER 2025

By Dr. Amanda Udis-Kessler

“God has told you, O mortal, what is good, and what does the Holy require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)

Dear UCCMA members,

As I write this column I am a week into my new role as Transitional Pastor at Vista Grande Community Church UCC and therefore am thinking deeply about the role of relationship building and spiritual growth in institutional change. Religious communities cannot weather the challenges of discernment, visioning, and becoming our next best selves without both community development and practices of humility, patience, and ego surrender (among other virtues).

What does any of that have to do with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)? Everything. A commitment to DEI is a commitment to expanding and deepening our relationships, engaging with new people and understanding who people are and how they make sense of the world in ways that we may not have previously considered. Diversity demands relationship, or it will fail.

Similarly, a commitment to equity and inclusion demands the kind of spiritual development that allows us to truly love our neighbor as ourself. Without cultivating humility, patience, and ego surrender, we will struggle to lay down our privilege and work for the well-being of others even when their well-being may cost us something in the way of status or advantages.

The way of Jesus is a path of relationship-building and spiritual development even as it is a path of struggle, joy, and justice. The way of DEI is similarly a path of relationship-building and spiritual development – and just as much a path of struggle, joy, and justice in its own way.

Last time, I promised to use this column to consider the message that is sent (however unintentionally) when people oppose DEI. I’ll now write that post in February. It’s still an important topic.

Wishing you all an Advent of fierce waiting and tender hoping and a Christmas of delight and celebration – and may all your Christmas Eve services flow smoothly with no technical or musical difficulties!

All peace, Amanda

amanda@amandaudiskessler.com